“Yep, definitely pregnant,” Sakane mutters.
“Can wepleaseput the bickering aside?” I beg, exasperation creeping in as I tighten my hold on Xeni to keep him from escalating.
Xeni glares at Cato for a long moment, and just as Cato relaxes, Xeni leans in again.
“Woof.”
“Gods damn it!” Cato shouts, but Xeni puts his hands out in surrender and curls into my lap.
“Are you done?” I deadpan.
“For now,” Xeni mutters.
Cato sits back, arms crossed and jaw tight, and I stare for another long second to make sure they’re finished.
When they both stay quiet, I turn serious once more. “Xeni and I were discussing plans, and…” I glance at Xeni in silent question.
He wrinkles his nose as he glares at Cato, but nods.
I gesture at the three of them. “We’re going back to his village, and you all should come with us. The city is too dangerous now that we’re wanted, and this isn’t going to disappear. They might turn the sirens off, but they won’t stop hunting us.”
Sakane glances towards the window, where the alarms buzz as a constant reminder. “Yeah, Xeni, Cato, and Ego are everywhere on the streets, and it’s only a matter of time until the rest of ours join them.”
My eyes narrow. “And how would you have that information when you were supposed to be safe in this apartment?”
A few loose strands fall from Sakane’s bun as he gestures wildly. “Listen, I can blend in with the best of them. Did you even read that description of me? ‘Male, thin, approximately five-foot-eight, black hair worn in a bun, rounded brown eyes.’”
I raise a brow and gesture at all of him.
He scoffs. “That describes a quarter of the Asian population in the city. And besides, I wore a hat.”
“We could shave your head,” Ego says with a manic gleam in her eyes. “Or, even better, you could let me dye it. You’d be smoking hot with some red or purple in there.”
Sakane shields his hair protectively and takes a step back. “You stay over there and keep your hands to yourself.”
“Why were you out there?” I ask.
Sakane’s cheeks blow out with a heavy exhale. “I picked up some supplies.”
I lean forward, tightening my hold on Xeni so he doesn’t fall. “You didn’t go home, did you? We don’t know who’s—”
“Stop being such a worrywart,” Sakane says with an exasperated huff. “Of course I didn’t… I went to the market instead.”
“You went to the market,” I deadpan, gesturing outside where the alarms continue their relentless wail. “While there are raid sirens blaring and we’re wanted for treason.”
“Yep.”
“What was so important that you needed to risk going out?” I demand.
Sakane shrugs before motioning at a few paper bags on the floor beside him. “Uh, well, lots of goodies, thank you very much. Nelly said she could give us plenty of clothes, so I didn’t bother with those. But I grabbed some essentials.”
He pushes the bags in my direction, and I glance at the first to find jerky, nuts, and other shelf-stable foods packed inside. The rest of the bags contain matches, a couple of blankets, a neatly folded tarp, some gloves, a small bunch of rope, and some rubbing alcohol. Just before he tugs them back, a flash of color catches my eye.
“Is that what I think…” I grab the bag, and Xeni leans over, nosy as ever, to look with me.
“Sakane,” I say as I stare.
“Hmm?” he asks innocently, but his cheeks are flushed.
